Phoenix Cornered By Mixer

Phoenix 1 Mixer 3

Gower Phoenix (4-4-2) Claudio – Dens, Renne, Treen, Danny H – Andy, Miles, Lucas, Jon H – Fleshie, Jack

Despite dominating periods of the game and having some great spells of possession and chances, an inexperienced new Phoenix side went down to some late Mixer goals.

The team handed first starts to Andy on the left and Rod’s neighbor Jack up front – both accounted well for themselves in a difficult first match.

After a drubbing from Red Star Phoenix were keen to make amends and the centre backs looking stronger with a midfield shield, particularly Hanna, in front of them. Renne and Dens cleared up well behind any balls that cleared the top, both making important sliding tackles to clear early danger.

Phoenix went 1-0 up twenty minutes in with a well worked effort. Dens slid the ball to Andy whose deep cross was controlled by Miles who returned the ball low for Fleshie to bundle in from close range. Miles went close again after some clever football from Lucas, who was finding his passing range and dovetailing well with Hanna.

Claudio looked assured between the sticks and made a excellent save one on one after a Mixer striker stole through late in the half.

Second half and Phoenix’s lead disappeared immediately. A corner was missed by Claudio and the defence were unable to prevent a back post header making it 1-1.

Phoenix pushed forward and Fleshie and Miles again come close, the former after a fantastic cross field pass from Miles that he perhaps should have hit first time. Jack and Andy were working hard on their first games and Jack’s intelligent running and Andy’s strength gave Phoenix the upper hand.

Perhaps the decisive turning point, after a penalty should have gone to Gower after a Mixer handball in the box, was a fantastic save from a dipping and well hit Lucas effort. Then disaster as with 5 mins to go another corner evaded everyone and was headed in to give Mixer the win. A third was scored as Gower were hit on the break in the last minute.

So a lot of positives to take from this – Danny H and Treen are building a centre back partnership as are Lucas and Hanna in the middle – there was a lot of work from the flanks and the new boys did a solid job in difficult circumstances. The team needs to continue to gel for success to come.

MOTM – Lucas – excellent pivot play and good work rate, best moment the powerful shot that was superbly saved.